Ecosystems Flashcards
(20 cards)
define ecosystem
a community of living organisms and their physical environment in an area which is self sustaining
define habitat
the environment with a distinct set of conditions where a species or a group of species live
define community
populations of living things interacting with each other in a habitat/community
define population
a group of interbreeding organisms of the same species living together in the same area and same time
define abiotic
non-living factors
define biotic
living factors
what are anthropogenic factors
factors arising from human activity
define niche
the role of an organism in a habitat
what are examples of abiotic factors
soil pH
oxygen concentration
topography
CO2 concentration
temperature of air, soil, water
salinity
pollution
what is an autotroph
producer
fix energy within molecules
what is a heterotroph
ingest material from other organisms
what is a primary consumer
herbivore so eat plant material
what is a secondary consumer
carnivore/predator
feed on primary consumers
what is a tertiary consumer
carnivore/predator
top of the food chain
what is an omnivore
eat plants and animals
what is the trophic level
position of a particular species in the food chain
what is a food web
feeding interactions between animals in an ecosystem
what are decomposers
species of bacteria/fungi
feed on dead remains of organisms
what are detritivores
primary consumers
feed on dead organic matter (detritus)
e.g. woodlouse, worms
what are biotic factors
competition (interspecific, intraspecific)
grazing
predation
paratism
mutualism
disease
